Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 48854

Zip code 48854, encompassing the Mason, Michigan area, is home to five elementary-level institutions serving grades PK-5, including four traditional schools within the highly-rated Mason Public Schools (Ingham) district and one specialized program under the Ingham Independent School District (Isd).

For parents, the standout academic performer is Alaiedon Elementary School, which consistently outpaces its district peers and state averages across nearly every subject and grade level. Its 3rd-grade math proficiency (88%) is exceptional, nearly double the district average and more than double the state average. In contrast, North Aurelius Elementary School and Steele Street Elementary School perform near or slightly above state averages but lag behind Alaiedon in most metrics. Notably, North Aurelius has the lowest free/reduced lunch rate (21.29%) yet still trails Alaiedon academically, suggesting factors beyond socioeconomic status drive Alaiedon's success. Steele Street shows a positive trajectory, improving its state ranking from the 46th to 56th percentile. James C Harvey Education Center serves only PK-K with a low student-teacher ratio (8.6) and higher per-student spending ($16,530), reflecting an intensive early-childhood focus. The Ingham Independent School District (Isd) ASD Programs is a specialized outlier with just 11 students and a 3.6 student-teacher ratio, serving a unique population not comparable to the traditional schools.

District-wide, chronic absenteeism is a clear strength, with all three K-5 schools (11.0% to 14.8%) far below the state average of 27.9%. Early literacy is also a consistent success, as 3rd-grade ELA proficiency at every school meets or exceeds the state average. However, a notable concern emerges in upper-elementary math: proficiency drops sharply by 5th grade across all schools, with Alaiedon falling from 88% in 3rd grade to just 29.3% in 5th grade. This pattern suggests a potential curriculum challenge in upper-elementary mathematics that the district may need to address. Overall, families in this zip code have access to strong, well-attended schools with a clear academic leader in Alaiedon, though they should be aware of the math proficiency decline as students progress.